JOINT COMMUNIQUE
ISSUED BY HIS EXCELLENCY DR. JOHN POMBE JOSEPH MAGUFULI, PRESIDENT OF THE
UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA AND HIS EXCELLENCY EDGAR CHAGWA LUNGU, PRESIDENT OF
THE REPUBLIC OF ZAMBIA, ON THE CONCLUSION OF THE STATE VISIT TO TANZANIA HELD FROM
27TH TO 29TH NOVEMBER, 2016
1.
At the
invitation of His Excellency Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, President of the
United Republic of Tanzania, His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of
the Republic of Zambia paid a three-day State Visit to the United Republic of
Tanzania from the 27th to the 29th November, 2016.
2.
His
Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu was accompanied by Hon. Harry Kalaba
(MP), Minister for Foreign Affairs; Hon. Freedom Sikazwe (MP), Minister of
Presidential Affairs, Hon. David Mabumba (MP), Minister for Energy and other
Senior Government Officials.
3.
During the visit, the two Heads of
State renewed and reaffirmed their historical good neighborliness and friendly
political and diplomatic relations, and held substantive and fruitful
discussions on bilateral issues. In this respect, they expressed their satisfaction with the excellent
bilateral relations and cooperation that exist between the two countries and
reaffirmed their commitment to further advancing and strengthening these
relations and cooperation.
4.
The two
Heads of State also had an opportunity to discuss various issues of mutual
interests, including the Tanzania –Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA), the Tanzania-Zambia
Oil Pipeline (TAZAMA), the Port of Dar es salaam and the Nakonde-Tunduma One
Stop Border Post (OSBP).
5. On the TAZARA, the two Heads of
State emphasized on the importance of revitalizing it so that it can effectively cater for the transportation of
people and goods to and from the two countries. In
this regard, the two Heads of State directed their Attorney Generals to review
the legal framework establishing TAZARA with a view to addressing all the
bottlenecks surrounding it for the purpose of making TARAZA more efficient.
6. With respect to the TAZAMA
pipeline, the two Heads of State also agreed to improve the services of TAZAMA to restore its
carrying capacity to the 1976 levels of 1,100,000 tons per year, and to make it
more efficient and profitable for the benefit of the two countries and their peoples.
7. Regarding the Port of Dar es
Salaam, H.E. President Magufuli informed H.E. President Lungu on the progress
so far made by his government in improving the services of the Port in order to make it more efficient
and competitive. President Magufuli further assured his counterpart on Tanzania’s commitment to complete the construction of
Tunduma / Nakonde One Stop Border Post in order to facilitate trade between the two
countries, which has recently shown positive signs of growth, and in this
regard to reduce inspection stops along the road to only four. On this matter, H.E. President Lungu reassured President
Magufuli on Zambia’s intention to continue using the Port of Dar es Salaam.
8. The two Heads of State also witnessed the signing of the Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of diplomatic consultations. However, prior to the signing,
the two Heads of State directed their governments to take appropriate actions
to ensure all outstanding agreements and memoranda are signed as soon as
possible
9.
The two
Heads of State also had the opportunity to exchange views on regional and international
issues. In this respect, they reaffirmed the commitment of their two governments
to continue cooperating under the framework of the SADC.
They also reiterated the commitment
of their governments to continue working together at the African Union (AU) as
well as the United Nations (UN) levels, with a view to promoting the African integration
agenda and sustainable development.
10.
At the
conclusion of the State visit, His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu
reaffirmed the Zambian government’s commitment to further strengthening the
existing bonds of friendship and mutually beneficial cooperation between the
two countries. He also expressed his profound gratitude and appreciation to His
Excellency President Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, the Government and People
of the United Republic of Tanzania for the warm reception and hospitality
accorded to him and his delegation during the visit. Finally, His Excellency
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu extended an invitation to His Excellency President
John Pombe Joseph Magufuli to visit Zambia at his convenient time.
Done at Dar es Salaam, 29th November,
2016